The Electoral Commission has reached the conclusion that 18-year-olds should have the right to stand for parliament.

It said that it could find no reason why candidacy age should be different from voting age, but stopped short of recommending a further reduction to 16.

The decision to stick with 18 is a blow to campaigners, the Liberal Democrats and schools minister David Miliband, who had all supported a drop to 16.

Constitutional affairs minister Christopher Leslie said the government would give "due consideration" to the report, while the Conservatives welcomed the new recommendations.